COAST Anti-Drilling Act Permanently Bans Oil and Gas Leases Across Entire Atlantic Coast

The Clean Ocean And Safe Tourism Anti-Drilling Act of 2025, or the COAST Anti-Drilling Act, is about as clear as legislation gets: it permanently bans new oil and gas leasing in the Atlantic Ocean and the Straits of Florida. This isn't a temporary pause or a regulatory tweak; it’s a full stop. Specifically, Section 2 of the bill mandates that the Secretary of the Interior cannot issue any new leases or authorizations for exploring, developing, or producing oil, gas, or other minerals in four major planning areas: the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and the Straits of Florida. This prohibition is designed to override any existing or future laws that might otherwise permit drilling in these zones, cementing the ban.

Protecting the Coastal Economy: A Permanent No-Drill Zone

For anyone who lives or works along the Atlantic seaboard, this bill offers a huge dose of regulatory certainty. Coastal economies—think tourism, fishing, and recreation—depend heavily on clean water and pristine beaches. A permanent ban means these industries, from the small family-owned fishing charter in the Outer Banks to the major hotel chain in Miami, are protected from the existential threat of a catastrophic oil spill. This bill essentially takes the risk of offshore drilling off the table for these areas, allowing businesses that rely on the ocean to plan for the long term without the specter of environmental disaster looming over them.

The Fine Print: What Areas Are Covered?

The bill defines the banned areas by referencing specific maps—those included in the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management's (BOEM) 2024–2029 National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leasing Proposed Final Program. This is a smart move that uses already established boundaries, which helps keep the bill precise and reduces legal ambiguity. Essentially, the entire Atlantic coast, from Maine down to the southern tip of Florida and the Straits, is now a permanent no-go zone for new offshore drilling activity. This clarity is crucial for everyone, from energy companies who need to know where they can and can’t invest, to environmental groups who want to ensure protections hold up.

The Trade-Off: Energy Supply and Investor Impact

While coastal communities and environmentalists gain significant protection, the energy sector and those concerned about domestic supply stability will see this as a loss. The bill permanently removes a massive area from potential future oil and gas development. For oil and gas exploration and production companies, this means a permanent closure of an investment opportunity. For consumers, the long-term impact on energy prices is harder to predict. If the U.S. continues to remove potential domestic supply through legislation like this without simultaneously scaling up alternative energy sources, it could put upward pressure on energy costs down the road, although the immediate effect is likely negligible given current production elsewhere.